Adventure group offers supportive space to get active and explore North Queensland

One Townsville hiker has found a new way for women to connect after she grew tired of relying on nightclubbing to meet new people. Find out the details of their next adventure.

'B-----s who hike' group had an awesome turnout for their first women's only event to Wallaman falls with 22 women participating

For many young people, social drinking can seem like the only avenue to meet new people and connect with friends, but one women’s adventure group is looking to change that.

B-----s Who Hike (BWH) is one of several new female-only active groups popping up around Townsville.

These groups aim to create a safe environment where women can move their bodies and explore the beauty of North Queensland with other like-minded people.

Founder of the group Denika Wyngaarden said that young women are looking for more fulfilling ways to spend their weekends than going out at night.

“I think the fact that everyone in Townsville is getting a little bit over the continuous party, we need more to do than just go to Flinders Street every weekend,” she said.

“Girls are wanting a little bit more out of their day-to-day lives and weekends and are searching for a bit more of a community connection.”

Denika Wyngaarden, founder of 'B-----s Who Hike' a women's only hiking group in Townsville during their Wallaman Falls group hike

After a heavy influx of rain prevented earlier hikes, a group of 22 set off on their first adventure last month, taking on Wallaman Falls.

“We had girls who are in the military come, and they were fit as anything and able to smash the hike out, and we also had girls on the other end of the fitness spectrum who had never done a hike in their life,” Ms Wyngaarden said.

'B-----s who hike' group had an awesome turnout for their first women's only event to Wallaman falls

“The group was so supportive of each other and we took the pace of the slowest person, we took breaks as everyone needed it and we just stuck together the whole time.

The next hike is Saturday, July 13 at Mount Marlow at 7.45am with Ms Wyngaarden encouraging any women interested to come along and give it a go.

“You have nothing to lose; the group is beyond supportive, and all you’re going to get out of it is more friendships, cool views and a full cup when you leave,” she said.

While other hiking groups in Townsville encourage all people to join the club, Ms Wyngaarden wanted to create a female only space to boost women’s confidence.

“The idea is to be solely a women-orientated group because I think it really makes people feel comfortable to be able to come and connect with other girls,” she said.

“There’s not that pressure of ‘are we going to be able to keep up with the boys on the hike’ or ‘I feel uncomfortable wearing a bikini or swimming in a waterfall around a male’ we just kind of wanted to take that pressure away and put the focus on girls connecting with girls, and girls supporting girls.” 

For details on their next hike visit the Instagram page here

Originally published as Adventure group offers supportive space to get active and explore North Queensland